TOUGH TALK – Barnstable Supt. Dr. Mary Czajkowski talks with the Barnstable Human Services Committee Jan. 14 about substance abuse programs at Barnstable High School, and how best the community can address the issue of substance abuse.

School supt., Human Services talk tough on substance abuse

In 12-step programs, the first step toward addressing a problem is admitting there is a problem. This week, key leaders in Barnstable took a significant first step when they not only acknowledged there is a substance abuse program in Barnstable, including at Barnstable High School, but also agreed to work toward addressing the problem.

During the hour-long meeting, Czajkowski shared sobering statistics gleaned from data collected by the school’s Gosnold counselor as well as a “Communities that Care” youth survey.

According to the 2011 survey report, 25.7 percent of freshmen and 46.5 percent of juniors had used alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey. More than 20 percent of freshmen and 34.8 percent of juniors reported marijuana use, with many students admitting to using the drug as early as age 13.

“This is certainly significant,” said Czajkowski, who emphasized that the problem isn’t contained to BHS. “This is not a school issue. This is a community issue.”

The question discussed by those at the meeting was what can be done.

“You have to confront it. You have to put it on the table,” Czajowski said.

At BHS, grants make it possible for a counselor from Gosnold to hold office hours two days per week. The school also holds Challenge Day annually for students in grade 9, a program aimed at breaking down barriers that could lead to bullying, while fostering an atmosphere of support.

While Challenge Day is a positive event, Barnstable Youth Commission Chair Elizabeth Ells said an issue with it is follow-up between adult mentors and students in the wake of the deeply emotional day.

“That whole week is amazing,” Ells said. “The follow-up is a challenge because we’re such a large school.”

Patti Machado, Leisure Services director, said that outside of school, along with the Youth Commission, are various church programs, including the ECHO program of the Fall River Diocese.

Bill Doherty of the Cape Cod Commission said that helping students find their passion is an important step toward prevention.

“Every child has a passion,” he said. “It’s tapping into what that passion is.”

Czajkowski shared with the committee her experiences as superintendent in Agawam when substance abuse issues there inspired a community forum that included students in recovery and parents who had lost children to drug abuse.

“It was very powerful,” Czajkowski said.

What made the forum successful, Czajkowski said, was the involvement of people from across the community, from teachers and students, to parents, businesspeople, clergy members and others.

“It’s getting people to come forward to acknowledge it as a community,” Czajkowski said.

The committee questioned the possibility of creating such an event locally and discussed how best to get the message out to the community.

Human Services Committee member and town councilor Jen Cullum appreciated the idea of bringing the awareness and prevention concept to other area committees.

“We’re all paying attention right now,” she said. “Now is the time for this issue.”